Devon's police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez is asking the public whether they would be prepared to pay more so that there are increased numbers of officers on the streets.

The region's crime czar has launched a survey asking whether residents would be happy to pay on average an extra £1 on the council tax policing precept each month.

In a letter to the people of Devon, Ms Hernandez said that she is committed to increasing police officer numbers across Devon and Cornwall by 100 each year but needs to use precept rises to do that.

"I hear regularly from MPs, elected councillors, local residents and businesses that more frontline policing would be welcomed and I have put local policing at the heart of our Police and Crime Plan," she said.

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"In meetings with Government ministers I have consistently made the case that central Government cuts to funding have been detrimental to policing.

"In 2017 I committed to increasing police officer numbers by 100 over the term of my office to take the total number back up to 3,000.

"However, the Government has recently offered a funding opportunity that could both speed up that recruitment and further increase the number of officers.

Alison Hernandez

"In Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly 63 per cent of the police’s total budget comes from central Government, with the remainder raised through council tax contributions, known as the policing precept.

"As your Police and Crime Commissioner it is my decision whether to change the policing precept.

"Previously, legislation has limited this increase to 1.99 pre cent but for 2018/19 the Government has announced that PCCs can now increase the precept by up to £12 per year (or 23 pence per week) for a Band D property.